Did you know you can earn money by selling your pictures? We all have pictures on our cameras or computers that people will pay money for.
Yes, that's right.
You can make money taking pictures and you don't have to be a professional photographer.
Basically, all you need is your digital camera, access to the internet, and the desire to produce nice photos.
You don't have to have a website or even an expensive camera.
Best of all, you can live anywhere in the world and still take advantage of selling your unique, clear photos.
Remember the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words.
If you think about it, pictures are very important in our everyday lives.
Millions of new websites come online every year.
With the availability of the internet, the opportunity to find buyers for your photographs has increased at an amazing rate.
Thousands upon thousands of authors, web page designers and average everyday people are searching for good pictures to illustrate their websites, ebooks and other online publications.
Stock photos are very popular with graphic artists, designers, ad agencies, art directors and the like.
These pictures are used in magazines and marketing brochures too.
Often times, instead of hiring a professional photographer, a buyer will procure an image and then the photographer is paid a commission.
The digital photography industry has exploded in growth.
Just surf online and you will find endless sites that are visually appealing.
It doesn't matter if they are personal or business sites.
People want to view sites that are gentle on the eyes.
There are sites that have stock photographs available for purchase.
A stock photograph is just an ordinary picture taken basically without a purpose.
Pictures are called "stock" photos when a photographer shoots a picture and then sells it later.
There are stock photograph companies all over the internet that will let you sign up for free and upload your photos that stay on their database.
If someone chooses to use your photo, then you will get paid.
Realize that you will only get paid per each download.
Once your pictured is downloaded, the consumer can use it as often as they wish.
You will always retain copyright of your photos.
You are granting the stock agency a license to sell the use of your photo but not the photo itself.
ShutterPoint, iStockphoto, Dreamstime and BigStockPhoto are stock photography sites; just to name a few.
Some of these companies will let you sign up for free.
Others want an application filled out with a sample of your pictures to qualify for acceptance with their company.
Once you have signed on to a stock agency, you can look at their most popular photos to get an idea of the pictures you may want to focus on.
All this is easily researched online.
Not just any photo will do.
Make sure that pictures submitted are free from logos, trademarks and brand names.
They must be of good quality.
View some professional sites like Corbis and Comstock to get inspired about photo taking.
Take a look at Getty Images as it is the largest stock photo agency in the world.
Two excellent books on how to take quality photos for stock are: Digital Stock Photography: How To Shoot and Sell, by Michael Heron for under $15; and Sell Your Photos On iStock, by Stephen Wilson for around $13.
Another one I came across is, eBay Photos That Sell: Taking Great Product Shots for eBay and Beyond, by DanGookin for $20.
Hmm, I wonder if he sells that on ebay! Photography is a good way to earn cash fast.
All you have to do is learn how to sell pictures online.